“What is Queer BDS? Pinkwashing, Intersections, Struggles, Politics” is 1 of 2 public panels organized by Queer Visions at the World Social Forum: Free Palestine. Held in Porto Alegre, Brazil from November 28 to December 1, 2012, the World Social Forum: Free Palestine brought together activists from around the world organizing for justice in Palestine. Palestinian Queers for Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions, Pinkwatching Israel, and alQaws: for sexual and gender diversity in Palestinian society invite activists, social movements, and queer groups to join and endorse Queer Visions at the World Social Forum: Free Palestine.

In different parts of the world queer groups and allies have aligned themselves with the Palestinian Liberation Struggle. Despite Israel’s attempt to win the favor of queer people in order to legitimize its occupation, activists and scholars have publicly and collectively renounced Israeli pinkwashing, occupation, and apartheid. A global queer movement is gaining momentum to promote Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions as a political tool to force Israel to abide by International Law.

In this panel, different activists will share their experiences, challenges and views on the contemporary state of queer solidarity for Palestine. They will talk about the diverse struggles that they have faced in promoting queer politics and BDS in their respective communities. Our special guest this afternoon is Angela Davis. Her vision and experience has empowered us all. We are honored to have her as our guest on this panel.

4 Responses

According to Shaul Ganon of the Tel-Aviv based gay rights group, Agudah, “The P.A.’s usual excuse for persecuting gays is to label them collaborators–though I know of two cases in the last three years where people were tried explicitly for being homosexuals.” “It’s now impossible to be an open gay in the P.A.” Ganon says that Islamic law is the main justification for such treatment of homosexuals under the Palestinian Authority.

You must ask yourselves one simple question and answer honestly .
Would you be able to hold a gay pride parade in Palestine or anywhere else in the Middle East outside Israel for that matter . I have no problem with showing solidarity for the Palestinian people , but when you seek to denigrate and besmirch the only true bastion of Gay rights within a thousand miles , it’s at that point that I realise you have left all sense of reason and proportionality behind .

On a personal level , I have a friend who left the UK for Israel several years ago . He has since met and fallen in love with an Arab Israeli guy and they are due to marry in a civil ceremony in Netanya next April . I’m delighted to say that my family and I have been invited and we are looking forward to it greatly . I only mention this in order to put some sort of human perspective on the reality that is Israel . No doubt it will mean little to those who see fit to hold grandiose conferences theorising on so called pink washing but while you debate , people are able to celebrate their sexuality without fear of persecution and reprisal and to proclaim their relationships formally .
It so pains me to see you using a false representation of Gay Rights in Israel in order to pursue your malign hatred of Israel . So sad !